# NTSB CEN09LA463: Pilgrim Samuel W JR RV-6, N56SP, Oshkosh, WI, July 25, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 25, 2009, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Oshkosh, WI - Coordinates: 43.985, -88.561668 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9850&lon=-88.5617&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 9, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 74372 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA463 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74372/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74372 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA463 ## Probable cause The failure of the rudder pedal which resulted in the pilot's inability to maintain directional control of the aircraft. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Flight control system: rudder control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Pilgrim Samuel W JR RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720/cases.md?model=05626TF), [All aircraft, 93 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022720/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Pilgrim Samuel W JR RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05626TF), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330) (defining event); cases with it: [Pilgrim Samuel W JR RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=05626TF), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Pilgrim Samuel W JR RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05626TF), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Pilgrim Samuel W JR RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05626TF), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Pilgrim Samuel W JR RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05626TF), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the landing roll the right rudder pedal welds failed. The airplane turned to the left into the wind and departed the left side of the runway. Because he had no right rudder or right brake authority, the pilot applied left rudder and brake in order to avoid a ditch which paralleled the runway. The right main gear collapsed and the firewall was damaged. Inspection of the airplane revealed the left seat, right rudder pedal had failed. The rudder pedals were tubular and the upper welds where the vertical tubes are connected to the cross-member had failed. ## Factual narrative On July 25, 2009, at 1230 central daylight time, an amateur built experimental RV-6, experienced a rudder pedal failure which resulted in a loss of directional control and a landing gear collapse while landing at the Whitman Airport, Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The personal flight was operating under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight departed from the Muscatine Municipal Airport (MUT), Muscatine, Iowa, at 1100. The pilot reported that during the landing roll the right rudder pedal welds failed. The airplane turned to the left into the wind and departed the left side of the runway. Because he had no right rudder or right brake authority, the pilot applied left rudder and brake in order to avoid a ditch which paralleled the runway. The right main gear collapsed and the firewall was damaged. Inspection of the airplane revealed the left seat, right rudder pedal had failed. The rudder pedals were tubular and the upper welds where the vertical tubes are connected to the cross-member had failed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N56SP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N56SP), registered now, S/N 23088, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PILGRIM SAMUEL W JR RV-6 - Registry model: [Pilgrim Samuel W JR RV-6](https://openairdocs.org/model/pilgrim-samuel-w-jr-rv-6) (registry code 05626TF) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a1a) (registry code 41594, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 23088 - Airframe hours: 670 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Berry Damon R - Registered owner: Berry Damon R - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, March 31, 2009, 17 hours before - Departed: MUT, Muscatine, IA - Destination: OSH, Oshkosh, WI - Airport: OSH, Witman Regional Airport, runway 36L, 8,002 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 15,000 total, 400 in this make and model, 12,000 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 15 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.67 inHg - Observed at: OSH ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20090725020209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090725020209A), Jul 25, 2009: Amtr RV6, Oshkosh, WI, Substantial damage. Upon arrival at eaa airventure 2009 at Oshkosh, Wisconsin kosh aircraft landed runway 36L in a strong gusty crosswind condition. During crosswind landing the… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 16, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74372. 535 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 535 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318395&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.